FIRST Marked [Grave] Site in Hope Cemetery - Falls County, TX
N 31° 24.827 W 096° 47.261
14R E 710308 N 3477577
A 1980 Texas Historical Marker at Hope Cemetery in rural Falls County, TX indicates that the first marked gravesite here is that of an infant, Alma Etta Watters, dating to 1874.
Waymark Code: WM15P9Z
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 02/02/2022
Views: 0
Little Alma rests in peace at the back of the fenced-in Watters family plot, and as of this posting, you'll want to be careful about navigating the briars that are taking over. Note the regional pronunciation of Alma's middle name on the headstone, which is out of its holder. A mourning dove is at the top, followed by this inscription:
Alma Eter
Daughter of
J.W. & M.C.
Watters
Born
Jan. 13, 1874,
Died
Feb. 13, 1874.
Sleep on sweet Alma
And take thy rest,
God called thee home
He thought it best.
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The historical marker provides some background, also noting the lost first burial from 1873:
Falls County Judge W.R. Reagan, pioneer school teacher, gave this 10-acre site in 1873 to Hope Baptist Church for a meeting, school, and burial ground. The 61-member fellowship under the pastorate of the Rev. J.J. Davis erected a sanctuary to serve the "Spunky Flat" area.
The first grave in the cemetery after 1873 was that of a young girl whose family was traveling through the region. Over the plot they built a small house which washed away in a flood. The first marked site, dated 1874, is that of Alma Etta Watters.
A summer revival conducted in 1921 under an arbor revitalized the congregation, and for several years the prayer meetings continued to draw large crowds. As residents moved to cities and young men went into military service in World War II, the membership declined. In 1943 the last service was conducted. The sanctuary was destroyed by fire in 1966.
In the early years relatives and friends provided maintenance for the burial ground. Hope Cemetery Association was organized in 1974 and a tabernacle was constructed five years later. The graveyard, with 104 marked sites and many unmarked plots, continues to serve the area.
FIRST - Classification Variable: Person or Group
Date of FIRST: 02/13/1874
More Information - Web URL: [Web Link]
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